December 15 - Hope For The Holidays

According to the Mayo Clinic December is the prime month for “Seasonal Affective Depression Disorder” also known as Winter Depression.

I can relate to that. 

So far this month there’s been a series of under whelming events:

• the deadly dull Winter Baseball Meetings
• the lame Mitchell Report
• the less than awe inspiring acquisitions of Chris Shelton, Ben Broussard and Milton Bradley
• the dismal denouement to the disastrous Chris Young trade with the release (non-tender) of the 2006 Pitcher of the Year
• and the Titanic-like sinking feeling when I reached my 50th birthday last week.

I absolutely and unequivocally support the re-building for the 2008 season. But it is still going to be difficult being a Ranger fan, especially when local media types and other local fans (read: pompous Cowboys and Mavs fans) start whining. Wait a minute - they’ve already started. (Although Mavs fans are on shaky ground.)  The Rangers are the butt of many local jokes and object of derision by the sports talk show blow hards and ink stained wretches in the local rags.  Those are plenty of reasons to feel “seasonally depressed”.

But after last night, maybe not.

Need a little inspiration? Some hope for the future? Just listen to German Duran and Blake Beavan say they were glad to be drafted by the Rangers –“my hometown team” or Doug Mathis say  that he’ll do whatever the Rangers want him to do “so I can get to the big leagues” .  People, too often, ask me  why I prefer watching minor leaguers instead of major leaguers – events like last night’s are one of the reasons.

The Newberg Book Release Party at the Rangers Downtown Dallas Office chased all of the December gloom away.  Want more reasons?  Listening to John Whittleman talk about his terrific season at Clinton and his move up to Bakersfield – he knows what he has to do in the California League this season and he’s already got Frisco on his radar.  Talking with Chris Davis – who was a relative unknown 2006 draftee when he joined us at the Winter Fan Fest in January – now he is the 2007 Minor Leauge Player of the Year – who says nice guys don’t finish first?  How can you not be inspired?  How can you not feel just a little more hopeful about the future? How can you not see that re-building through the farm system is the right thing to do?

The weather was terrible, however the crowd and players were great. My personal thanks to Baseball Mom (Toni), who I talked into helping me at the book distribution table – by the way she had a great time too. As always, thanks to Jamey Newberg for allowing me tag along, do you realize that it will be 10 years of the Newberg Report website in 2008? It was fun seeing old friends like Grant and Mike Schiller, Rob Cook, Todd Trice, Scott Lucas and Mike Ryhner, as well meeting some new ones (hey there Trosey!)  Pictures from the event are in the photo gallery on the left hand side of the blog and Jamey Newberg has a more complete report on the Newberg Report website.

Depressed? Not anymore.  Texas Ranger baseball fan?  You bet – and proud of it! How many days until pitchers and catchers report to Surprise?

I have to mention this:  I know there is at least one other “Big Lebowski” fan who reads this blog. Rick Press of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is a former junior bowling champion.  When movie stars, authors and other celebrities are in town to promote something he takes them bowling and then writes an article about it.  This past week was the ultimate: he bowled with "The Dude".

Finally: This my last blog entry until after New Year’s (I hope…)  It’s time for some holiday baking (ask my family about my cookies, biscotti and placek – they’ll tell you ol' Marla knows her way around the oven). Plus I need to do some research on the perfect combination of cognac and egg nog for my New Year’s eve toast.  I’ll be back after the New Year holiday with more…stuff. 

Until then, I leave you with a wish for hope and  “Better Days” in 2008. (Lyric by John Rzeznik)

“And you asked me what I want this year
And I try to make this kind and clear
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days.
I don't need boxes wrapped in strings
And designer love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days.”

Be happy, be safe and enjoy the blessings of the season – Marla Hooch